Malik Tillman picked up on Saturday where he left off last season with Eredivisie winners PSV.
Tillman scored a sensational goal in PSV’s 5-1 opening day victory vs. RKC Waalwijk. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder’s impressive performance earned him SBI Americans Abroad Player of the Week honors.
Tillman delivered PSV’s third goal of the match, rifling a right-footed shot into the top-right corner of the net. It marked Tillman’s 10th career goal for the club since originally joining last season on loan from Bayern Munich.
The 23-year-old was lively in his 90-minute shift, winning three tackles, creating four goalscoring opportunities, and winning six of his eight duels. After making the permanent move to Holland earlier this summer, Tillman will be expected to play a large role in PSV’s title defense this season.
Here is a look at some of the other top Americans Abroad performers from this past week:
Brenden Aaronson
Brenden Aaronson’s return to Elland Road saw the USMNT attacker make a vital impact in Leeds United’s EFL Championship opener.
Aaronson came off the bench to score Leeds’ tying goal in a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth. The USMNT midfielder found himself in good position to create room for a low shot in the 95th minute, giving the Lilywhites a point on home soil.
Despite missing a potential go-ahead opportunity only minutes later, Aaronson will be confident heading into this week’s EFL Cup clash with Middlesbrough.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Celtic made it two victories out of two to begin its Scottish Premiership defense.
Cameron Carter-Vickers anchored Celtic’s backline in Sunday’s 2-0 road victory over Hibernian. The USMNT defender rarely put a foot wrong, winning seven duels, drawing one foul, and making two defensive interceptions.
Celtic and Hibernian will meet again next weekend in Scottish League Cup action.
Jonathan Amon
For the first time since October 2020, Jonathan Amon scored a senior goal at club level.
Amon scored on Sunday in Lyngby’s 1-1 league draw with his former club, Nordsjaelland. The lively attacker has dealt with several injuries over his professional career, but looks to be back enjoying his action again in Denmark.
Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds’ impactful start to Westerlo’s domestic schedule continued Saturday with the right back netting his first goal of the season.
Reynolds scored in Westerlo’s 4-3 home triumph over Union St. Gilloise, giving them a third-consecutive victory to start the season. The USMNT right back now has one goal and one assist in three appearances to date, giving him an early confidence boost after not featuring internationally this summer.
What did you think of these individual performances this past week? Was there anyone left off the list that you would’ve added?
Share your thoughts below.
I’ve thought for awhile a shakeup of our formation and roster pecking order was both coming and was necessary. I liked Tillman the first time I ever set eyes on him and the more I see of Tillman with PSV the more I like him – he’s one of the better athletes in our pool, he’s shockingly physical for a player with his level of finesse, and my word, is he ever technical and so incredibly smooth on the ball, maybe the most elegant player on the USMNT. He didn’t really seem to suit Gregg Berhalter or his system for whatever reason, but my suspicion is in a re-jumbled pool under a new coach he could well fare better. Be it as a wing or a CAM, I think he’ll be a starter for us at some point and will likely end up as one of the top five guys in our pool.
I also don’t see him being at PSV much longer.
I agree. Tillman looks poised to start grabbing more starts and minutes for the USMNT.
Reynolds also looks ready to get back with the USMNT
It makes me wonder why Bayern agreed to let him go. Tillman is making a case that he is too good for the Eredevisie.
It was reported that they have a buy back clause and a matching rights offer. Buy backs are usually 2 yrs with a price set. Or if another club swoops in and try’s to buy him from PSV they can get him back for the asking price. It’s really like they’ve loaned him but he’s off their books. Might cost them some money in the long run but given them cash in the short run.
Gary,
“It makes me wonder why Bayern agreed to let him go.”
I’m not a Bayern expert but who do Bayern have that plays his position?A quick scan of their current first team roster tells me that it’s more loaded than the USMNT or the PSV roster is.
I like Malik a lot as does Bayern. But, as JR points out, they have him on what you could call a modified loan. Meaning if he has a break out season with PSV and becomes the next big thing, it would cost them a little but they could get him back..
Which tells me that whoever they have playing Malik’s role, Bayern must believe they’ve got that role well covered for now.
And most of all, Kompany is now the manager. He’s new and may not share the previous manager’s opinion of Malik.